Presents the results of a study on data collection instruments, specifically questionnaires, used by libraries in evaluating resource use and institutional effectiveness. A number of causes for inconsistent survey results are identified and problems with imprecision in survey question terminology are discussed. (JL)

Describes a method for estimating the number of cathode ray tube terminals needed for public use of an online library catalog. Authors claim method could also be used to estimate needed numbers of microform readers for a computer output microform (COM) catalog. Formulae are included. (Author/JD)

This in-depth report discusses findings from a survey of academic, public, and special libraries to determine the effects of budgetary curtailments on acquisition and retention policies for scholarly journals. Effects of budget reallocation, library efforts to alleviate economic pressures, and borrowing/lending activities are described. The…

Discusses what librarians have written about futures research and examines the application of various methods of such research in librarianship. An extensive bibliography is included. (CHC)

Explains use of the Citation Index in writing term papers by assigning an older publication as a starting point in a literature search. By reading the original research report and following its subsequent use by other researchers, the student discovers the impact of the original research. (CS)

A survey at the University at Albany (New York) on user satisfaction with reference services gathered information on behavioral characteristics of librarians: interest, confidence, friendliness, and enthusiasm, as well as on patron comfort and overall satisfaction. Analysis of the data (n=100) indicates that user satisfaction depends on more than…

Discusses results of a Web survey on the use of Spanish language subject headings in local academic library catalogs. Indicates that, while few libraries assign such headings locally, many retain and display them in the catalog when they are provided through copy cataloging records. (Author/LRW)

Describes the economic impacts and benefits received from public libraries in Florida, indicating that public libraries make a significant contribution to the economic development of the state. Discusses taxpayer funding, budget cuts, and determining economic impacts from taxpayer investments; and presents a framework for further studies.…

This section includes five articles on research and librarianship including a case study on research and practice in academic libraries; select peer-reviewed journals that examine the current state of public library research (1996-2000); development of research on school library media programs; benefits of collaborative authorship for librarians…

Proposes a research model to test the dependence of a field list of internationally visible journals on the initial set. Outlines applications of the experiment and hypothesizes on the validity of the Institute of Scientific Information's (ISI) impact factors. Suggests that in some cases lists of journals selected by linguistic or geographic…

Describes the faculty-librarian collaboration at Towson University in the development and teaching of information literacy instruction. Findings from the faculty survey and information literacy instruction statistics indicated that this close collaboration yields a seamless blend of core subject information and information seeking/evaluation…

Discusses the amount of instruction that is part of reference service, based on experiences with the University of New Brunswick's LIVE (Library Information in a Virtual Environment) digital reference service. Concludes that digital reference instruction is not a substitute for more formal library instruction programs that include information…

Describes a study that measured the subject area and call number correspondence for the discipline of history at the Texas A&M University libraries. Considers the rise in interdisciplinary scholarship that challenges the frequent assumption that a correlation exists between topicality and call number range for collection management decisions.…

Five Grand Challenges are proposed for library research: (1) Library service: Could library services be made more meaningful? (2) Library theory: Who knew what when? (3) Library design: Have digital libraries been designed backwards? (4) Library values: How neutral can libraries be? (5) Library communities: How do communities differ? (AEF)

Challenges the view of plagiarism as a moral rather than pedagogical issue and the view that students plagiarize when they know they are plagiarizing. Offers survey results indicating that students and instructors alike misunderstand plagiarism. Urges instructors to show students how to use secondary materials responsibly and to give students…